Kolkata, 14 March (H.S.): Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kolkata, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has put up hoardings across the city highlighting the issue of alleged pending central dues and displaying the slogan “Go Back Modi”.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a major political rally at the Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday, along with an administrative meeting. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made extensive preparations for the programme, with banners and publicity materials put up across the city.

In response, the TMC installed its own hoardings overnight in different parts of Kolkata and adjoining areas. The posters claim that the Union government owes West Bengal ₹1.96 lakh crore in pending funds. The hoardings are prominently visible at several key locations, including near the Maa Flyover.

The TMC has repeatedly alleged that the Centre has withheld financial dues to the state for political reasons. According to the party, the state government has continued its welfare schemes despite financial constraints.

The party further claimed that after the BJP’s defeat in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, funds under several central schemes such as the rural roads programme, the 100-day rural employment scheme, the housing scheme, and the Jal Jeevan Mission were allegedly withheld. The Union government, however, has maintained a different position on these allegations.

TMC leaders have also stated that ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the state government provided housing assistance to lakhs of beneficiaries and that the first instalment for around 3.2 million beneficiaries has also been released ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Additionally, the party said that despite not receiving funds under the rural roads scheme, the state government launched the ‘Pathashree’ project using its own resources, under which nearly 20,000 km of roads are being constructed. It also highlighted the ‘Amar Para Amar Samadhan’ initiative, under which road construction and repair work is being undertaken in both rural and urban areas.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh